EAST RUTHERFORD -- Chief among the reasons the Giants will throw quarterback Eli Manning onto the field Sunday in their season finale against the Washington Redskins despite a tattered offensive line is their desire to win. Coach Tom Coughlin's been preaching for weeks that there is everything to play for, including "pride" and "competitive greatness."

But there's another reason Manning will start a Week 17 game with no playoff implications. It means something to him to make his 151st consecutive regular-season start, which will be the longest in the NFL when Redskins linebacker London Fletcher retires after the season.

"It does [mean something]," Manning said Thursday. "It's something I'm proud about. Since I became the starter I haven't missed a game or missed a start.

"You just want to be there for your teammates and obviously it pays off all the hard work I put in during the offseason and the season to stay healthy and stay strong. Obviously I've had some different injuries, but I've been able to play through them luckily and hopefully can continue to do that."

Manning is on the verge of completing his ninth straight season of a full 16 games. In a year where he's already tossed a career-high 26 interceptions and been sacked a career-high 38 times, it might be the only positive he can hang his hat on from 2013.

Manning hasn't missed a game since becoming the Giants' full-time starting quarterback in 2004. His streak is the third-longest among QBs in NFL history. Only his brother, Peyton, with 208 consecutive games and Brett Favre with 297 have shown greater endurance among quarterbacks.

So even with rookie QB Ryan Nassib waiting on the bench, there is no way Manning willingly sit, even if asked. He would lobby hard to make sure he starts and extends the streak.

“Yeah [I’d still want to start],” he said. “It is something I’d like to keep going. It is important. I’m proud that I’ve been there for my teammates and this team to be out there this Sunday.”

There’s someone on the other side of the ball that likely feels the same. Fletcher has a streak of his own, and will be making his 214th consecutive -- and likely last -- start Sunday against the Giants. He is expected to retire at season's end.

Fletcher's durability even impresses Manning, especially since he’s done it at a position that initiates the contact rather than absorbs it.

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“He’s been amazing. He’s a great competitor and tremendous player,” Manning said. “To be there every single week and stay healthy at that position, it’s a great tribute to him and his desire to be out there every Sunday.”

Toughness for a linebacker is expected. Quarterbacks aren’t always thought about in the same vein. Toughness isn’t always the first thing that comes to mind when describing or thinking about Manning. The aw-shucks looks and skinny frame don’t immediately suggest that he's a potential ironman.

But it may be among his top traits. When asked about Manning’s durability, coach Tom Coughlin remembered the time in 2007 when his quarterback slightly separated his shoulder. He was supposed to miss at least two games.

At the beginning of that week, Coughlin didn't think Manning could throw. By the end of the week, he was on the field, ready to start that coming Sunday and the remainder of the season.

“Toughness. Mental toughness. Desire. Competitiveness. All those things,” Coughlin said when asked what he attributes to Manning’s consecutive games streak. “He’s a tough guy. He’s played through an awful lot of things.”

Manning will likely need to play through more if he intends to catch his brother. The sibling rivalry apparently never ends.

“He probably has more starts than I do consecutively anyway,” Eli said. “I have a few more years before I can catch him with his number.”

Eli didn’t know exactly how many consecutive games he had played. Yet he still knew approximately where it stood in context to Peyton’s.

No wonder there was no chance he would be willing to sit in Sunday's game against the Redskins. Eli wants to play, win, continue his consecutive games streak and track down his brother.